The Nights – English Lyrics

• By: Avicii

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Avicii's inspiring electronic anthem, "The Nights," a perfect track to help you embrace the motivational Swedish culture embedded in its lyrics. This song, rich with the theme of living fully, teaches the importance of creating unforgettable memories so that your 'wild heart will live for younger days,' offering a universal lesson on making the most of every moment.

[English]

...

♪ Once upon a younger year When all our shadows disappeared ♪

♪ The animals inside came out to play ♪

♪ Went face to face with all our fears Learned our lessons through the tears ♪

♪ Made memories we knew would never fade ♪

♪ One day my father, he told me "Son, don't let it slip away" ♪

♪ He took me in his arms, I heard him say "When you get older ♪

♪ Your wild heart will live for younger days Think of me if ever you're afraid" ♪

♪ He said: "One day you'll leave this world behind So live a life you will remember" ♪

♪ My father told me when I was just a child "These are the nights that never die" ♪

♪ My father told me ♪

♪ When thunder clouds start pouring down Light a fire they can't put out ♪

♪ Carve your name into those shining stars He said: Go venture far beyond the shores ♪

♪ Don't forsake this life of yours I'll guide you home, no matter where you are" ♪

♪ One day my father, he told me "Son, don't let it slip away" ♪

♪ When i was just a kid ,I heard him say ♪

♪ "When you get older Your wild heart will live for younger days ♪

♪ Think of me if ever you're afraid" ♪

♪ He said: "One day you'll leave this world behind So live a life you will remember" ♪

♪ My father told me when I was just a child "These are the nights that never die" ♪

♪ My father told me ♪

♪ "These are the nights that never die" ♪

♪ My father told me ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
father /ˈfɑːðər/ A2	noun - a male parent
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
shadow /ˈʃæd.oʊ/ A2	noun - a dark shape produced by a body coming between something and light verb - to follow as a suggestion or influence (e.g., “shadow someone”)
memory /ˈmem.ər.i/ B1	noun - the ability to store and recall past experiences
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2	noun - combustion that produces heat and light verb - to dismiss someone from a job
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a luminous point in the night sky
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; also the centre of emotion
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of an individual human being or animal
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries and peoples
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous
wild /waɪld/ B1	adjective - uncontrolled, untamed, or free‑roaming
younger /ˈjʌŋ.ɡər/ B1	adjective - having less age; more youthful
remember /rɪˈmem.bər/ A2	verb - to retain in memory; to recall
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	noun - a person who leads or directs others verb - to lead or direct
venture /ˈven.tʃər/ B2	verb - to undertake a risky or daring journey or activity noun - a risky business undertaking
carve /kɑːrv/ B2	verb - to cut or shape something from a material, especially wood or stone
slip /slɪp/ A2	verb - to lose footing and slide unintentionally noun - an act of slipping; a small mistake
forsake /fɔrˈseɪk/ C1	verb - to abandon or renounce

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ Once upon a younger year

  ➔ Prepositional phrase (Time)

  ➔ Uses "upon" to indicate the time frame "a younger year". "Once upon" is an idiomatic expression often used to start a story.

• ♪ Learned our lessons through the tears

  ➔ Prepositional phrase (Means)

  ➔ "Through" indicates how the lessons were learned, meaning by or as a result of the tears.

• ♪ Made memories we knew would never fade

  ➔ Relative clause (Reduced form)

  ➔ "We knew would never fade" is a reduced relative clause modifying "memories". It's implied that "memories that we knew..."

• ♪ Son, don't let it slip away

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ Uses the imperative form ("don't let") to give advice or instruction.

• ♪ When you get older

  ➔ Subordinate clause (Time)

  ➔ "When you get older" is a time clause, indicating the condition under which something happens.

• ♪ Your wild heart will live for younger days

  ➔ Future tense (will + verb)

  ➔ Uses "will" to express a future action or state.

• ♪ So live a life you will remember

  ➔ Object Relative Clause (Reduced)

  ➔ The relative pronoun (which/that) is omitted as "you will remember" is describing "life". It's the object of the verb "remember".

• ♪ So live a life you will remember

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ The sentence starts with a verb, which creates an imperative mood, giving a command or suggestion.

• ♪ Don't forsake this life of yours

  ➔ Imperative sentence (Negative)

  ➔ A negative imperative, giving a strong instruction or warning.